Executive Committee
The Executive Committee conducts the business of the College between Council meetings.
The committee is composed of the Chair and Vice-Chair of Council, the chairs of the Accreditation, Discipline, Finance, Fitness to Practise, Investigation, Registration Appeals, and Standards of Practice and Education committees. It must include a minimum of two publicly appointed members of Council. The committee meets, at minimum, four times each year.
Based on recommendations of the Nomination Committee, the Executive Committee made several appointments to fill statutory, standing, regulatory and special committee vacancies as they occurred in 2013.
The Executive Committee administers the College’s Scholarship Program. The committee established criteria to create two new scholarships or awards:
- the Ontario College of Teachers Primary/Junior or Junior/Intermediate Scholarship and
- the Ontario College of Teachers Intermediate/Senior Scholarship.
The Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education, named in honour of the College’s second registrar, is in its 11th year.
The College received 66 applications for the scholarships this year.
For 2013-2014, the committee selected:
- Jennifer Jacqueline Lauren Cook as the recipient of the Joseph W. Atkinson Scholarship for Excellence in Teacher Education
- Shyla Michele Pogany as the recipient of the Ontario College of Teachers Primary/Junior or Junior/Intermediate Scholarship
- Emma Caroline Dunn as the recipient of the Ontario College of Teachers Intermediate/Senior Scholarship.
Council presented these candidates with their awards at its December meeting.
The Executive Committee has the authority to make an interim order directing the Registrar to suspend a Certificate of Qualification and Registration if it is of the opinion that the actions or conduct of the member exposes – or is likely to expose – students to harm or injury. The committee may also direct the Discipline or Fitness to Practise committees to hold a hearing and determine an allegation without involving the Investigation Committee. During 2013, the committee referred one case to the Fitness to Practise Committee where it requested that the matter be dealt with expeditiously.
The committee reviewed the provisions in College regulations for disqualifying members of Council from sitting on Council. It recommended additions to Regulation 72/97, General, which deals with the general workings of Council and the College under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, to address this issue. Council endorsed these recommendations.
The committee led a review of a harassment and discrimination policy for Council members and the Standard Procedures of Council and the Executive Committee, both of which were adopted by Council. The committee also reviewed the process for developing future professional advisories. Council adopted the process. The College has issued four professional advisories to its members.
In 2014, the Executive Committee will continue to explore the feasibility and logistics of enabling stakeholders and members of the public to address Council. The committee will report its findings to Council.
